History paper 1 (Medicine + Warfare & British Society)

Cause of disease in Medieval England 1250-1500

Hippocrates - theory that disease was caused by imbalance of Four humours (blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile)

Galen - developed theory of Four humours + created theory of opposites in order to balance humours (if patient was too hot, they would eat a cucumber to cool down.)

Galen was especially popular because the Theory of Opposites did not require human dissection which allowed the Church to support him because the church did not believe in cutting the body (the soul had to be intact to go to heaven.)

Miasma - theory that disease was spread through bad air (if the person breathed in miasma you would become ill) Many people believed in using pleasant smells to protect against miasma causing illness.

Medieval treatments of disease

Herbal remedies - herbs were used in drinks, baths or inhaled to relieve symptoms for example aloe vera helped digestion and mallow eased blade of stones.

Bloodletting - cutting the vein to release excess blood was believed to heal illness for example Leeches were used to suck out blood + cupping was used on a cup to draw out blood.

Supernatural treatments - people believed that the king had the power to heal through touch. This came from the medieval belief in the Divine Right of Kings. The belief that the King’s authority come from God. People believed that this was particularly effective in scrofula, a form of tuberculosis.

Medieval care for illness

Physicians - physicians attended university for 7-10 years. They were the most educated of all medical professions available. Despite this they had little practical experience in diagnosis and surgery. They would diagnose patients by using the four humours, use astrology charts or take urine samples.

Barber surgeons - as well as cutting hair barber surgeons performed tooth extractions and amputations. Most were not qualified but learned by watching other Barber surgeons. Many people died from shock, blood loss or infection because operating tools were not cleaned between operations and they did not have any method for pain relief.

Wise women - women were the main source to care for the sick. For example they mixed herbal remedies based on flowers and herbs they would grown in the garden. They also carried out minor surgeries e.g assisting with childbirth complications.

Hospitals in medieval England

Hospitals were good at caring - chruch owned approximately 30% of hospitals, nuns and monks made patients feel comfortable. By 1500 there were 1,100 hospitals in England.

They provided useful assistance to the sick - provided hot meals and rest. Some non religious churches hired physicians and barber surgeons.

However they were unhygienic - patients often had to share beds which spread disease. Hospitals turned away patients such as pregnant women the terminally ill.

Disease prevention in medieval England

Hygiene - the Regimental Sanitstis provided a set of instructions written by physicians to help patients live a healthy life. E.g exercise + avoiding stress. Included less logical advice e.g breathing in eastern + northern air.

Diet - physicians discouraged overeating because rich diets caused diseases like dysentery which caused the death of King John 1216. Some people purged regularly to avoid illness by using laxatives + vomiting.

Purifying the air - to counteract miasma people used herbs such as lavender and flowers such as posies. Local authorised would also remove rotting bodies on the streets to get rid of bad smells.

The Black Death 1348 ideas of causes

Religious - punishment from God for sin. It was seen as a sign of judgement day when God would punish sinners.

Astrology - in 1345 there was unusual positioning of Mars Jupiter and Saturn. People believed this was a sign that there were bad things to come.

Natural causes - some people believe that Miasma caused the Plague. They believed that the air had been corrupted by volcanoes, earthquakes and rotting matter in the streets.

Treatment of Black Death

Religious - church advised people to confess their sins and pray for forgiveness. Ordinary people did treat their symptoms because they believed that it was God’s judgement whether they lived or died.

Natural treatments - people attempted to clean bad air by burning a fire and boiling vinegar. Some physicians would remove buboes and encourage healing.

Apothecaries - would sell herbal remedies e.g wormwood used for purging. Theriaca (mixture of 60 ingredients approved by Galen) known to help illness therefore prescribed for Black Death.

Prevention for Black Death 1348

Natural prevention - people attempted to avoid miasma by moving to cleaner air in the countryside. Avoid bathing because they believed that water could open pores, allowing bad air to enter the body.

Supernatural prevention - priests encouraged prayer + fasting. People known as flagellants would whip themselves to show God that they were sorry for sinning.

Government action - some towns introduced quarantine laws e.g people had to isolate for 40 days. The government tried to prevent religious gatherings however the church opposed to show their authority.